Medical experts have strongly condemned Donald Trump and Robert F Kennedy Jr for promoting an unproven link between the painkiller Tylenol (acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol) and autism in children. Trump warned pregnant women to limit use of the drug, while Kennedy said the health department was encouraging physicians to prescribe the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) called the claims 'highly concerning' and 'irresponsible', stating that suggestions of a causal link are not supported by evidence. The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) echoed this, noting that a thorough review of existing research has not established a causal relationship between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and autism or ADHD.
International regulators also rejected the claims. The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said on Monday there remains no evidence linking paracetamol use during pregnancy with autism, and continues to recommend it for pain relief. Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) re-confirmed the drug's safety for use in pregnancy on Tuesday.
Dr Monique Botha, an associate professor at Durham University, pointed to a 2024 Swedish study of 2.4 million births that found no relationship between paracetamol exposure in utero and autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability. She said she is 'exceptionally confident' no link exists.
Tylenol itself posted on Instagram acknowledging 'conflicting information' but stating that 'credible, independent scientific data continues to show no proven link'. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also announced approval of leucovorin for treating autistic children, but the American Psychiatric Association cautioned that it is not a recommended treatment and requires more research.
